Minnesota News Briefs: Pipestone man dies from fall from Chicago hotel

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(Chicago, IL) -- A Minnesota man has died after falling 22 feet down a smokestack at an upscale downtown Chicago hotel early yesterday morning.

Twenty-three-year-old Nicholas Wieme from Pipestone was taking pictures atop the Intercontinental Hotel when he lost his balance and fell. Fire Special Operations Chief Michael Fox says it took 125 firefighters four hours to rescue the man. Wieme succumbed to his injuries shortly after he was rescued. He was apparently on the roof with his girlfriend before he fell and she called 911.

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Two arrests have been made in the armed robbery Monday at First State Bank of Big Fork in Kelliher. The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office says two male suspects from Bemidji were taken into custody yesterday (Wed). One of the suspects was armed with a shotgun wearing white coveralls and a mask from the movie "Halloween." He pointed the barrel at a bank teller and fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. Authorities believe the other suspect drove the getaway car. Investigators are still following up on leads and plan to release more information today.

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First District Minnesota Congressman Tim Walz (DFL-Mankato) is calling on leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives to bring forward a bill that will extend middle class tax cuts right away. During a floor speech Wednesday, he said the American people want stability and a Congress that works. Walz called inaction by the House "insulting to the American people." He says the U.S. Senate has already passed a bill and the president would sign it today. Walz filed a special petition which requires the House to consider legislation once a majority of members have signed it.

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A Blue Earth Area school bus driver accused of slapping a six-year-old boy has reportedly reached an agreement with prosecutors. Seventy-two-year-old Jane Brooks of Elmore was facing up to 90 days in jail on a fifth-degree assault charge for the September incident. The deal calls for the charge to be dropped if Brooks has no assault or disorderly conduct-related violations for one year. She slapped the boy in the face after stopping the bus twice and telling him repeatedly to stop hitting and spitting on other students. Brooks resigned from her 15-year position with district in October.

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The search continues for 27-year-old Danielle Jelinek of Oakdale. Jelinek has been missing since last Saturday and efforts to find her Wednesday turned up no clues. The Chisago County Sheriff's Office is conducting another coordinated search. Volunteers are meeting at the Chisago City Community Center and are asked to dress for searching outdoors in deep snow. Jelinek's purse, shoes and cell phone were located at the home of her on-again/off-again boyfriend. He was arrested on drug charges and is not cooperating with the investigation. Authorities have not yet labeled him a suspect.

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